If he went up to the great house to complain, it was hard to get the speech of Sir Lewis; and, indeed, his only chance of being righted was to coax the squire's pretty housekeeper, who could do what she pleased with her master.

If he ventured to intrude upon the Lord of the Manor without this precaution, he gained nothing by his pains.

Sir Lewis, indeed, would at first receive him with a civil face; for, to give him his due, he could be a fine gentleman when he pleased.
"Good day, my friend," he would say, "what situation have you in my family ?" "Bless your honour!" says the poor fellow, "I am not one of your honour's servants; I rent a small piece of ground, your honour." "Then, you dog," quoth the squire, "what do you mean by coming here?
Has a gentleman nothing to do but to hear the complaints of clowns?
Here! Philip, James, Dick, toss this fellow in a blanket; or duck him, and set him in the stocks to dry." One of these precious Lords of the Manor enclosed a deer-park; and, in order to stock it, he seized all the pretty pet fawns that his tenants had brought up, without paying them a farthing, or asking their leave.
It was a sad day for the parish of St Dennis.

Indeed, I do not believe that all his oppressive exactions and long bills enraged the poor tenants so much as this cruel measure.
Yet for a long time, in spite of all these inconveniences, St Dennis's was a very pleasant place.

The people could not refrain from capering if they heard the sound of a fiddle.